Celandine (Chelidonium majus)Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake From All-Creatures.org Art and Photo Journals and Galleries Directory

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Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
Table of Contents

Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 01
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 01)  Celandine are members of the Poppy family (Papaveraceae) that grow from one to two feet high.  The stems, buds, and undersides of the leaves are covered with white hairs. The leaves are pinnately divided and lobed with a "scalloped" edge.  The leaves grow alternately from the stem.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 01a
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 01a)  The flowers of the celandine grow in loose umbels, which we have noticed are often missing flowers.  As a result, the short white tipped (stigma) flower stems remain in the midst of the flowers.  Each celandine flower is about 3/4 inch in diameter and has four petals, one pistil, and numerous stamens.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 02
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 02)  In this photo, we have a partial side view of one celandine flower that is fully in bloom, and another flower that has only one remaining petal, having lost the other three petals and all the stamens.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 02a
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 02a)  In this photo, we have a bee's eye view of the stamens and pistil of a celandine flower.  We counted 22 stamens surrounding the central pistil.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 02b
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 02b)  In this nearly 40 times enlargement of a celandine flower petal, we can begin to see some of the individual cell structure.  We can also see that what appears to be the white tip on the flower stem is really the stigma of the pistil.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 03
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 03)  This is a photo of a more fully flowered celandine umbel.  We can also see the various stages in the life of the celandine flower: partially hidden behind the bottom left flower is a hairy bud, the bottom two and the top flowers are fully opened, the middle two flowers have begun to fade, and between the two central flowers is a flower stem topped with the ovary that is beginning to swell with seeds.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 03a
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 03a)  This is a close up look at the celandine flower buds.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 04
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 04)  This is another look at some of the celandine flowers.  The broken stems of the celandine exude an acrid, saffron-colored juice that was once used as a dye and to remove warts, corns, and freckles.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 04a
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 04a)  In this closer view of a celandine umbel, we can see how all the flower stems originate from a single location.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 05
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 05)  This is another look at a 3/4 inch celandine flower.  The celandine was introduced to the United States from Europe. They bloom from May to August.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 06
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 06)  This is a small patch of celandine that are just beginning to bloom.  In this photo, the celandine pinnate leaf structure can be observed with its terminal and two pairs of lobed leaflets.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 06a
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 06a)  This photo gives us a closer look at the hairy flower buds, which look like miniature pin cushions.  We have seen references that say that the leaves, stems and buds can be whitish, but we have only observed them to be a light green.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 07
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 07)  This is another look at the celandine flowers, and the hairy leaves, stems and buds.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 08
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 08)  This patch of celandine were growing along the side of the road.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 09
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 09)  This is another view of the 3/4 inch diameter celandine flower.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 10
(Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - 10)  In this photo, we have another view of the celandine flower and buds, and a small visitor.

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